New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is a pro’s pro. He knows full well what young Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes left on the field during Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Mahomes led his Chiefs back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to take a second-half lead before Brady returned the favor by leading the Patriots to a thrilling overtime win.
Mahomes’ excellent sophomore season and the records he broke were not lost on Brady following the game.
According to multiple media reports, Brady headed directly for the Chiefs’ locker room after the game to meet with Mahomes.
“Tom Brady just quietly approached a security guard waiting outside the Chiefs’ locker room — and asked if he could see Patrick Mahomes,” ESPN’s Jeff Darlington noted. “Brady was escorted into a room where he spoke briefly with him. A very clear display of respect from one incredible quarterback to another.”
It’s this show of respect that shouldn’t go unnoticed. What Mahomes did for the Chiefs this season was nothing less than extraordinary. He’s the face of the NFL and the likely league MVP.
This isn’t going to make Mahomes feel better about a brutal overtime loss with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. But it shows him that others around the league respect what he’s done. That’s not nothing.